The two players suspended operations, and turned their faces in the
direction whence came the sounds.
At some distance along the road, a cloud of dust suddenly rising,
indicated the approach of a troop of horses.
They were without riders. One only was mounted; and that was ridden by
the driver of the troop. In short, it was a _remuda_--such as rich
travellers in the north of Mexico usually take along with them for a
remount. These horses, on account of the half-wild life they lead upon
the vast plains where they are pastured, after a gallop of twenty
leagues without carrying a rider, are almost as fresh as if just taken
out of the stable. On long routes, each is saddled and mounted at
regular intervals; and in this way a journey is performed almost as
rapidly as by a mail express, with relays already established.
According to usual custom, a _bell-mare_ preceded this drove, which
appeared to consist of about thirty horses. It was this bell that had
first attracted the attention of the players.
When within a hundred yards or so of the huts, the driver of the
_remuda_ galloped to the front, and catching the bell-mare, brought her
to a stop. The other horses halted on the instant.
Shortly after, five cavaliers appeared through the dust, riding in the
direction of the huts. Two were in advance of the other three, who,
following at a little distance, were acting as attendants or servants.
The most distinguished looking of the two who rode in advance, was a man
of somewhat over medium height. He appeared to have passed the age of
forty. A greyish-coloured _sombrero_, with broad brim, screened his
face from the fervent sunbeams. He was habited in a pelisse, or
_dolman_, of dark blue, richly laced with gold, and almost concealed
under a large white kerchief, embroidered with sky-blue silk, and known
in Mexico as _pano de sol_. Under the fiery atmosphere, the white
colour of this species of scarf, like the _burnous_ of the Arabs, serves
to moderate the rays of the sun, and for this purpose was it worn by the
cavalier in question. Upon his feet were boots of yellow Cordovan
leather, and over these, large spurs, the straps of which were stitched
with gold and silver wire. These spurs, with their huge five-pointed
rowels, and little bells, gave out a silvery clinking that kept time to
the march of the horse--sounds most agreeable to the ear of the Mexican
_cavallero_.
A _mango_, richly slashed with gold lace, hung over the pommel of the
saddle in front of the horseman, half covering with its folds a pair of
wide pantaloons, garnished throughout their whole length with buttons of
filigree gold. In fine, the saddle, embroidered like the straps of the
spurs, completed a costume that, in the eyes of a European, would recall
the souvenirs of the middle ages. For all that, the horseman in
question did not require a rich dress to give him an air of distinction.
There was that in his bearing and physiognomy that denoted a man
accustomed to command and perfectly _au fait_ to the world.
His companion, much younger, was dressed with far more pretension: but
his insignificant figure, though not wanting in a certain degree of
elegance, was far from having the aristocratic appearance of him with
the embroidered kerchief.
The three servants that followed--with faces blackened by dust and sun,
and half savage figures--carried long lances adorned with scarlet
pennons, and _lazos_ hung coiled from the pommels of their saddles.
These strange attendants gave to the group that singular appearance
peculiar to a cavalcade of Mexican travellers. Several mules, pack
laden, and carrying enormous valises, followed in the rear. These
valises contained provisions and the _menage_ necessary for a halt.
On seeing Cuchillo and Baraja, the foremost of the two cavaliers halted,
and the troop followed his example.
"'Tis the Senor Don Estevan," said Baraja, in a subdued voice. "This is
the man, senor," he continued, presenting Cuchillo to the cavalier with
the _pano de sol_.
Don Estevan--for it was he--fixed upon Cuchillo a piercing glance, that
appeared to penetrate to the bottom of his soul, at the same time the
look denoted a slight expression of surprise.
"I have the honour to kiss the hands of your excellency," said Cuchillo.
"As you see, it is I who--"
But in spite of his habitual assurance, the outlaw paused, trembling as
vague souvenirs began to shape themselves in his memory; for these two
men had met before, though not for a very long time.
"Eh! if I don't deceive myself," interrupted the Spaniard, in an
ironical tone, "the Senor Cuchillo and I are old acquaintances--though
formerly I knew him by a different name?"
"So too your excellency, who was then called--"
Arechiza frowned till the hairs of his black moustache seemed to stand
on end. The outlaw did not finish his speech. He saw that it was not
the time to tell what he knew; but this species of complicity appeared
to restore him to his wonted assurance.
Cuchillo was, in truth, one of those gentlemen who have the ill luck to
give to whatever name they bear a prompt celebrity; and for this reason
he had changed his more than once.
"Senor Senator," said Arechiza, turning toward his _compagnon de
voyage_, "this place does not appear very suitable for our noon siesta?"
"The Senor Tragaduros y Despilfarro, will find the shade of one of these
cottages more agreeable," interposed Cuchillo, who knew the senator of
Arispe. He knew, moreover, that the latter had attached himself to the
fortunes of Don Estevan, in default of better cause: and in hopes of
repairing his own fortune, long since dissipated.
Despite the low state of his finances, however, the Senator had not the
less a real influence in the congress of Sonora; and it was this
influence which Don Estevan intended using to his own advantage. Hence
the companionship that now existed between them.
"I agree with all my heart to your proposal," answered Tragaduros, "the
more so that we have now been nearly five hours in the saddle."
Two of the servants dismounting, took their masters' horses by the
bridle, while the other two looked after the _cargas_ of the mules. The
camp-beds were taken from the pack saddles, and carried into two of the
houses that appeared the most spacious and proper.
We shall leave the Senator reclining upon his mattress, to enjoy that
profound slumber which is the portion of just men and travellers; while
we accompany Don Estevan into the hut which he had chosen for himself,
and which stood at some distance from that occupied by the legislator.